CHE REFERENCE LIBRARY - ZetaTalk

322 THE NURSERY-MANUALGourds (&~curbif~ l’tyo, Lagcnaria, a.nd others). @~urbitaccl~~~Increased by suds, after the weather is settled and ground iswarm, usually planted directly where the plants are to grow.Grammatophyllum. ~~rchidnctm.Propagated from pieces of the pseudobulbs. See OrchkZs, page 372.Grape (Vit is, several species ; I’. vir$tm is the wine grape andthe source of the European varieties ; I’. Labzwca is thedominant source of the American varieties). Vitacc~.Grape seedlings at-c’ easily grown. If the ground is fit and thereis no danger from vt>rmin, the seeds may be sown in autumn, butthey are usually stratified and sown in spring. They come readilyif sown outdoors, bur some prefer to force them under glass with amild bottom heat. Seedlings do not “ come true,” and they aretherefore grown only- for the purpose of obt,aining new sorts.The grape is readily multiplied by layers, either of the ripe orgreen wbod. The ripe wood or canes may be layered either in falIcir spring, but spring is usually preferred. The cane is covered2 or 3 inches dcq, and nearly every bud will produce a plant. InAugust or Septembt~r the la?:er should be lifted and cut into plants.Better plants are obtained if only the strongest canes are used andonly a part of the buds on each allowed to grow. The cane isusually cut back to four or five buds, or if very strong plants aredesired only one 1~~1 is left on each la>yer. Canes of the previousyear, those rcccntly matured, are preferred, although wood two orthree years old ma>- 1~ used, but in this case it is usually necessaryto cut or otherwise wound the joint to induce the formation ofroot,s. Vinrbs or stools grown for the production of layers should becut back severely in fall or winter, to induce a vigorous growth ofcanes the following season. These canes are then layered thesucceeding fall or spring. Only a part of the canes are layeredfrom any stool, some of them being allowed to grow for cuttingback the nest autumn in order to get another crop of canes. Insome varieties which do not strike readily from cuttings, layeringis considerabl), practiced by nurserymen. The Delaware is oftengrown in thi wag’.Extra strong layers can be secured by layering in pots. A largepot, filled with rich soil, is plunged beneath the layer. In thisway a layer may be rooted and separated even while carryingfruit. Layering in pots is prac Aced only in special cases.